Submarine closure



April 21, 1931. R G, MERRn-T n 1,801,358

SUBMARINE CLOSURE Filed June 13, 1928 7 9 f 4546- *:4 l l? :JM/vento@ /a'aMm/e/rr Patenteii` Apr. 21, 1931 ROBERT MERRITT, OF KENSINGTON, MARYLAND SUBMAR-INE CLOSURE application mea June 1s,

This invention relates in general to submarine devices and more particularly has reference to a closure for allowing acdiver attached to lines communicating with an out- 5 side source, to enter or leave a submerged compartment.

The invention formingy the subject matter of this application is a continuation in part of an invention disclosed in my copending application for Letters Patent, identified by Serial No. 254,029, and entitled Submarine devices. My parent application is kdirected toV an apparatus for rescuing crews entrapped in sunken submarines or other ves- 1.15 sels.

. VThe invention consists in general of the provision of an apparatus in the form of a cylindrical container composed of material having a substantially greater density than V that of sea water and'constructed to withstand the range of pressures to which it may be subjected. The container is designed to receive one or more divers equipped for carrying on rescue operations, and in addition, to accommodate a substantial number of any entrapped crew that may be removed from a submerged vessel.

w The container is fitted with a top closure and a lclosure near the bottom, both operable from Within, adapted to seal off the interior `of the container from the surrounding aqueous medium. A resilient cup is attached to the lower end of the container in line with the bottom closure, for the purpose oe'ecting a seal with the hulllof a sunken vessel, and provided in addition around thejwalls for fixing the container in position: after it has been lowered in place.

c The shell of the apparatus is formed for receiving a plurality of conduits toadmit air in the container and to the diver or diversen closed therein, through lines communicating with an outside source. The container kis adapted to be lowered from the surface with the closures open and made fast to the vessel with the cup against the hull; whereupon, the top closure is sealed and the water exhausted by suction through the lines with the lconcomitant, admission ofl `air thus effecting 1928. Serial No. 284,972.

a vacuum seal between the cup and the hull of the vessel.

The diver or divers in the container may reach anyentrapped occupants by cutting or otherwise penetrating the portion of the hull `exposed within the cup so that any crew within may be removed to the interior of the container. lVhen it is desiredto raise the apparatus to the surface, the bottom closure is sealed and fluid pressure introduced in the cup, thus breaking the seal and allowing the container to become detached from the vessel.

In the preferred construction, the apparatus takes the form of a cylinder, in order that it may meet with the least possible hydrostatic resistance on being lowered in the water, although such a shape is not essential, and likewise, while it is deemed desirable to make up the container of a substantially uniform diameter, any other shape found more suitable for particular operations may be employed. When the container is submerged, the closures, as previously stated, Vare' left open, so that the container acts as a cylinder open at each end, and hence is buoyed only bya forceequal to theV weight of the displaced liquid. On ascending to the surface, as the water in the container is exhausted, it

`is thus buoyed up y.by anpincreased pressure which is equal to the weight of the volume of water removed, the degree y of buoyancy varying with the dimensional characteristics of the particular construction.

It will be apparent that the iield of a diver `enclosed in the container is restricted tothe length'his lines extend through the conduits, hus making it necessary for other divers to carry on operations outside of the apparatus. This same diiiiculty is likewise encountered in all the various'types oit undersea apparatus now commonly employed, inasmuch as the respiratory and other lines communicating with an outside source are fined through the apparatus. i i i An object of this invention'is to provide a closure for the apparatus disclosed in my copending application, to allow a diver attached to lines communicating with an outside source to venter or leave the container while it is submerged. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide a submarine compartment in which a diver attached to lines communicating with an outside source may leave or enter.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure for a submarine compartment which may be entered by a diver attached to lines communicating with an outside source, and the water in the compartment exhausted without subsequent leakage.

With these and other objects in View which may be incident to my improvements` the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several ry elements comprising my invention, mag7 be varied in construction, proportions :n arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accomdrawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular constructions, which for the pu se of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration,

In the drawings forming a. part of the s cation, Figure 1 is a longitudinal tional view of the closure forming the subject matter of this invention, showing lilies communicating with an outside source, attaded to a divers helmet.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fi re 3 is a top view taken on line 3 3 of Flgune 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the plug carrying the lilies communicating with an outside source, is fixed fin the rim of the closure.

Referring by numerals to the drawings in which the same and similar elements are designated by like symbols of reference throughout, and more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a container having cylindricul side walls 1 forming a compartment 2. This container may, for the purposes of the present description be considered the same as that shown in m-y copending application, although, as will appear hereinafter, the closure is susceptible for a wide range of usage with other types of apparatus.

The container is provided at the top with 8m inwardly extending flange 3, which may be integrally constructed with or otherwise fixed around the side Walls l, or as will be more particularly pointed out later-,may con- Btitute ay portion of the hull of a submersible vessel. The flange 3 terminates in an upwardly extending rim 4, upon which there is adapted to be seated a rim 5 projecting down- Wardly from and formed integral with ay closure 6.

The rim 5 is held on the rim 4 by hinge members 7 and 8 Welded or otherwise securely attached to the outside of the respective rims, and pivoted on a pin 9. The faces of the rims 4 and 5 are formed with tapered annular grooves 11 and 12 in Which there are adapted to be seated a plurality of gaskets 13 and 14 extending above the surface of each rim, so that when the rim 5 is locked on the rim 4, the gaskets Will be compressed and a water-tight seal insured.

The sides of the respective rims opposite the hin e connection are formed with 1.(ppositely disgpsed projections 15 and as shown in igures 3 and 4. The projections are formed with tapered depressions 17 and 18 communicating with longitudinal depressions 19 land 21 formed across the rims, so that when the closure is in place an aperture 22 having a tapered neck 23 is formed, as shown in Figure 4. A plug 24, composed of any suitable resilient material such as rubber, and preferably' of variable plasticity progressively more resilient from the center outward, yis adapted to frt in the aperture 22 and thus seal the closure. The plug 24 is formed with a neck 25 adapted to fit in a tapered .seat 23 formed by the tapered depressions 17 and 18 in the projections 15 and 16 so as to prevent it being pushed in the container by the water pressure when the apparatus is submerged.

The rim 4 is formed with an inwardly extending neck 26 having a depression 27 communicating with the depression across the rim adapted to receive the end of the plug'24. A plurality of hinge projections 28 and 29 are formed on the top of one side of the neck and one end of a spring 31, conforming with the shape of one-half of the diameter of the plug pivoted thereon by a pin 32. The opposi/te end of the spring 31 is formed awith a flange 33 adapted to engage a hook 34 pivoted in a groove on the other side of the neck 26 by a pin 35. The hook 34 is formed with .an integral 4arm 36, so that after the flange 33 on the spring y31 is snapped in place, it may be disengaged 4by pressing the arm against 'the presure of a vleaf spring 37 mounted in the groove in back of the arm 36.

It is to be noted that the gaskets 12 and 13 seated in the rims fit around the depressions. In this manner when the plug 24 is inserted and locked in place by the spring 31, and `the closure 6 brought down, a watertight seal is insured by the gaskets being compressed around the resilient plug, the efficacy of the seal being multiplied .by reason of the variable resiliency of the plug.

The plug 24 is formed with a plurality of apertures 38 and 39 adapted to receive aplnrality of tubes 41 and 42, communicating with an outside source at one end, and attached to a divers helmet 43 at the other end,

in the conventional manner, as shown in Figure 1. It Will be manifest that any desired number of tubes may be employed for respiratory and signal communication with an outside source, such as a surface vessel supervising rescue operations, and threaded through the plug in any desired number of apertures, in the same manner.

At suitable points around the inside periphery of the rim 4 are provided slotted extensions 44, and around the adjacent periphery of the rim 5 at points above the slotted extensions are integrally formed posts 45, to which are pivoted threaded bolts 46. Internally threaded collars 47, formed integral with vertical shanks 48 on the ends of which are provided handles 49, are adapted to cooperate with the threaded portions on the bolts 46. In this manner, the rim 5 may be firmly secured on the rim 4 and locked in position, and a iirm seal insured by operation of the adjustable bolts.

The operation of this device in connection with the apparatus disclosed in my copending application may be readily understood with reference to that invention, in which the closure herein described is substituted for the top closure of the apparatus. It will be apparent that the bottom closure may likewise be of the same construction, so that a diver may enter or leave the container from the bottom before it is sealed to a vessel. In this manner a diver may seal the lower closure While operating on the hull, so that in the event that the seal should be broken, Water could not enter the body of the container.

It will of course be understood that certain conduits communicating with an outside source for the operation of the apparatus and not affecting the diver, may be connected to the body of the container as heretofore. If so desired the divers line may be conducted through the shell of the apparatus in the same manner and a suliicient length ofline arranged in the container to allow the diver to operate within a predetermined range outside the apparatus.

It will be manifest that the closure may be adapted to a wide variety of uses apart from that already described with reference to other types of submersible compartments. example, the closures may be itted to a specially constructed compartment in a submarine vessel whereby it would be possible for a diver to operate from such a vessel on the ocean floor.

In this connection it should be noted that the compartment could be fitted with fluid pressure devices for accustoming a diver to varying pressures. It would only be necess-ary to introduce air pressure by degrees until the same pressure as that exerted by the outside water was reached, at which point the diver would be able to open the closure and enter the water. Byl reversing the operation v@Ould 'easily be Opened, preferably site.. th vadinittance of Water through suitable cocks.

For

the Water could be.exhaustedon anincomllg f .diver entering the .compartment,.and ,the ap.-

paratussubsequently be used as a decompression chamber.

Byzemploying a .detached .compartment of this i character, certain of `the discomifOrhS t0 depths, without suffering from the chi-llfof y Y the water.

' After-this ,has been accomplished he could `be lowered under the surface .and by equailization of Vt-he water pressure without with the 2air pressure Within the container, the closure When the diver desired to ascend he could merely seal the Closure and be brought t9 the surface immediately .under thesame pressure as that below, and subsequently Vbe put through a decompression -PHQCQSS either in the saine` Container as PfvuSly dSClib after .exhausting water andsdmittingairtnder the same pressure, or placed in v an .ordinary -deompressionchamben 'It will y1D@.filtrare,Ht that the Closure @ald also be used more simply as a tank employed inlace .0f 'the rsu-a1 landins.Stf1ss-' In this manner a .diver could .be lowered with ,the

closnre open, thusbecoming accustomed to :the increased pressure :in the usual manner, anden a'senson, the @department sealed as alredyset ,forth and the diver immediately brought to the `Surface .under the Same nressure'whereupon he could be subsequently removed and placed iin a `deompmission shamber.`

There isaccomplished by this Ainvention a closure for submarine compartments 1n ing with an outside source may leave or enter,

' which a diver attached to lines communicat when the apparatus is submerged, without leakage of water rthrough the closure whenv air is substituted for the Water in the compartment.

VVhileI have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I Wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details and steps of construction herein set forth, by Way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A submarine compartment comprising, means to receive a diver attached to lines communicating with an outside source, a

closure associated with the receiving means, rims formed on the receiving means and the closure, oppositely disposed depressions formed in the respective rims, corresponding 'resilient gaskets seated in the depressions, a

lug surrounding a portion of the lines, fitted 1n the aperture formed by the depressions, means to lock the plug in the aperture, and means to lock the closure on the receiving means.

2. A submarine compartment comprising, means to receive a diver attached to lines communicating with an outside source, a closure mounted on the receiving means, adjacent annular rims formed on the receiving means and the closure having oppositely disposed depressions formed therein with corresponding resilient gaskets seated around the rims and in the depressions, oppositely disposed outer projections having tapered depressions formed on the rims in extension of the depressions therein, an inner projection formed on the rim of the receiving means in extension of the depression thereon, a resilient plug having a plurality of conduits adapted to receive the lines, fitted in the aperture formed by the depressions, an integral tapered collar formed on the stopper adapted to engage the seat formed by the tapered depressions in the outer projections, means to lock the plug mounted on the inner projection, and means to lock the closure on the receiving means.

3. A hatch comprising, a receiving means, a closure mounted on the receiving means, oppositely disposed depressions formed in the receiving means and the closure, means to lock the closure with respect to the sealing means, means to plug the aperture formed by the depressions, and means to lock the plugging means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT G. MERRITT. 

